ArtPrize Daily: October 2 — Join the Live Studio Audience at ‘Why These Finalists?’

Welcome to your ArtPrize Daily. The ArtPrize Daily exists to keep you in the loop — delivering the ArtPrize scoop to your inbox every morning during Preview Week and the 19-day event. It's a one-stop info package, offering a concise recap of the previous day's events, a look forward to the day ahead, and handy tips to help you make the most of your visit.

What's Happening Today at ArtPrize?

Join the live studio audience at the ArtPrize Studio @ HUB/HQ for the kick off of the fan-favorite series 'Why These Finalists?'. A panel of three art experts will discuss half of the finalist artist entries ― including those selected by public vote and the category jurors ― in a lively, humorous, and irreverent debate. And remember, you have the opportunity to consider both the public's and jury's picks when casting your votes in Round 1, so you definitely won't want to miss this event. Can't make it in person? Not to worry. Our friends at WOOD TV8 will be broadcasting each event live. The ArtPrize Studio Series is powered by ITC, Your Energy Superhighway.

ON DECK TODAY

Color West Michigan ArtPrize Rock Hunt— Color West Michigan will be hiding painted rocks for you to find at ArtPrize! Please get in on the fun and paint and hide your own rocks! Join our group Color West Michigan on Facebook to post the rocks you find. You can also find additional details and instructions on how you can participate in this fun activity in our Facebook group!

ArtPrize Labs @ Lions & Rabbits - Mobile Making— We will be using glazed geometric shaped pendants and beads to build our own ceramic mobile. Come play with shapes and create a bohemian wall hanging for your home or garden. All materials will be provided - clay pendants, sticks, string and or thread.

ArtPrize Tours — Not quite sure where to start, or looking for a fresh new perspective on the annual event? Take a tour of ArtPrize Nine and our city with us! The ArtPrize Nine tour, produced by the ArtPrize team, has been specifically designed to draw your attention not only to artwork that is entered into the 2017 event, but also iconic artworks that are permanent to the city of Grand Rapids.

Check out our events calendar — both online and on the mobile app — for a complete list of activities taking place in Grand Rapids.

NEXT MILESTONE EVENT

Round 2 Voting, presented by Meijer, is underway and will be open until October 5 at 11:59 p.m. Make sure to go out and see all 40 entries so you can continue to vote for your favorite pieces. At the end of Round 2 voting, the Artist Entry with the most Round 2 votes in each category will win their $12,500 public vote category award. The Finalist with the most Round 2 votes overall will be awarded the $200,000 Public Vote Grand Prize.

The Why These Finalists? series continues tomorrow, October 3, with a focus on 3-D and Time-Based finalists, featuring Justin Witte, Curator and Director at Cleve Carney Art Gallery; Laura Ritchie, Co-founder and Director at The Carrack Modern Art; and Kulapat Yantrasast, founder of wHY Architecture―will examine finalist entries in the 3-D and Time-Based categories. Join the live studio audience in the ArtPrize Studio at HUB/HQ, or watch live on WOOD TV8.

As a celebration of the participation of FIRST Robotics Competition teams at ArtPrize, Don Bossi, President of FIRST, will give a thought-provoking keynote address in the ArtPrize Studio. Bossi will focus on the role that educators, parents, and business leaders have in safeguarding that all students – especially those who are underserved and underrepresented in STEAM – have equitable opportunities and pathways to success that ensure uniquely creative, diverse, and innovative career prospects. Admission is free and open to the public.

Find out which artist entries will take home part of the $500,000 in cash prizes — awarded equally by public vote and expert jury. The two-time Emmy Award-nominated ArtPrize Awards Ceremony, powered by DTE Energy Foundation, will be broadcast live on NBC affiliate WOOD TV8, starting at 7:30 p.m. Todd Herring, ArtPrize Director of Creative and Communications and long-time River City Improv comedian, will return as host of the ceremony alongside returning house band, ONEFREQ. Tickets to the ceremony, plus ArtPrize After Dark, are now on sale for just $9.99 — but get yours quick because they're going fast.

Immediately following the announcement of the $200,000 Public Vote and Juried Grand Prize winners, the floor at 20 Monroe Live will transform from a TV studio-style audience, clearing the floor for ArtPrize After Dark, presented by LIFEWTR. Detroit-based band ONEFREQ will kick off the evening with a soulful set, followed immediately by headlining artist, Maségo. Get tickets while they last!

#ArtPrize9 Images of the Day:

ArtPrize Nine is underway and all 1,346 entries are picture perfect ready! Above is a snapshot of the work that has contributed to the transformation of Grand Rapids — shot by these Instagrammers:

Interested in the chance to be featured? Share your ArtPrize Nine experience on Instagram with our official hashtag — #ArtPrize9. Simple as that!

Yesterday at ArtPrize:

Yesterday was such an exciting day! ArtPrize visitors and artists filled Rosa Parks Circle, while they anxiously waited for the Public Vote Final 20 to be announced - to see their favorite entries (or their own work!) appear on the big screen, powered by LiveSpace. We hope you get the chance to see all 40 entries in person and vote for the ones you think deserve the $12,500 public vote category awards, and ultimately the $200,000 Public Vote Grand Prize, presented by Meijer.

Before the Public Vote Final 20 Announcement kicked off, the winner of the fifth Consumers Energy SmartArt student art competition was announced. Congratulations are in order for Katelyn Sheneman, a junior at City High Middle School, for winning first place -- taking home a $1,000 college scholarship and an Apple computer.

Immediately following the Public Vote announcements, ArtPrizers reveled in the Community Celebration with Roosevelt Park, presented by the Cook Foundation. Attendees indulged in the culture-rich atmosphere and gorgeous weather for this event featuring live music, a dance performance by Vizions dance company, food trucks and more.

For Kids of All Ages:

Calling all artists! ArtPrize offers an array of FREE activities for families and kids of all ages to participate in. ArtPrize Labs provides hands-on activities and creative experimenting through daily and drop-in activities, events, and programs produced by leading cultural organizations. ArtPrize Labs is sponsored by Grand Valley State University, Herman Miller Cares, and Switch.

ArtPrize Studio — Unleash your creative spirit and stop by the ArtPrize Labs Studio at the HUB/HQ for creative activities that are fun for all ages. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October 8.

STEAM Village Learning Lab — Art meets technology at the 2017 iteration of STEAM Village — where schools and visitors of all ages are invited to drop by our unique learning lab experience. Powered by Switch, the STEAM Village hosts a variety of activities including experimenting with robots, drawing with 3D pens, experiencing virtual reality and more! The STEAM Village Lab is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October 8.

Youth Collaboration Award — The Youth Collaboration Award, sponsored by Western Michigan University, gives K-12 students a platform to exhibit their work for thousands of ArtPrize visitors (that’s you!) to view. For the first time ever, ArtPrize Nine will feature 26 student-driven collaborative entries from schools across the state of Michigan. To find all Youth Collaboration Award entries, click here!

Support ArtPrize:

ArtPrize is a nonprofit organization. Your support helps the event thrive year-over-year, elevating the artists, venues and educators that create a world-class exhibition and generate learning opportunities for all.

Below are a couple ways you can support ArtPrize this fall and year-round:

Membership: Join our ArtClub membership program and get insider access to the event as well as perks year-round, or become an ArtFan to provide support for critical ArtPrize programs that serve the social good.

Retail Sales: Stop by the ArtPrize HUB/HQ or your local Meijer Store to pick up ArtPrize Nine merchandise, including commemorative clothing, pint glasses and mugs, the inaugural ArtPrize Magazine 'Public Notice,' and more. You can also shop many itemsonline.

Volunteering: Join the nearly 1,000 volunteers who step forward to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors to ArtPrize each fall. We couldn't do it without you.

Thanks to Our Sponsors:

Support from our corporate sponsors represented our largest source of revenue in 2016, accounting for 56% of ArtPrize’s $3.6 million operating budget. This support, combined with individual membership, retail sales and more makes ArtPrize possible each year.